Labour fails to respond on fracking

A Freedom of Information request reveals the Welsh Government failed to respond to the Oil and Gas Authority last year regarding a moratorium on fracking despite attempts from the authority for clarification.

The Labour Government put a block or a moratorium on fracking since 2015, but only last year got the powers under the Wales Act 2017.

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Energy Simon Thomas described the Labour Government’s failure to respond to the Oil & Gas Authority as an example of their ineptitude and that the moratorium was more spin than substance.

Plaid Cymru Mid and West AM Simon Thomas said:

“It is interesting that, despite the hype, the Labour led government in Wales did not respond to clarify the meaning of the moratorium in 2017 to the Oil and Gas Authority, the UK regulator. For the whole year there was just one email chain between the Welsh Government and the authority.

“This is despite requests from the UK regulator for clarification. This shows the moratorium is not a ban on fracking – far from it - it is more like a bit of spin on the part of Carwyn Jones’ government.

“I led a debate in the Senedd chamber last year on banning fracking. We don’t want fracking in Wales, and a future Plaid Cymru Welsh Government won’t allow fracking in Wales.

“Fracking is the old way of doing things. It’s time to throw out the solutions of the past and press ahead with green, clean energy - projects like the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon.”